The North American Perspective
Richmond Hill based companies have access to a rich and dynamic marketplace. In fact, North America’s largest marketplace with over 140 million consumers is within a one-day trucking commute of Richmond Hill. As part of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), Richmond Hill has access to a market of over 525 million consumers. The North American market is one of the richest in the world with a combined gross domestic product of roughly $11 trillion.

Map of Richmond Hill from the local and North American perspective.

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Local Perspective
Richmond Hill is strategically located in the heart of the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), which consists of the City of Toronto and the four regional municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel and York. Richmond Hill's premier location allows businesses access to over 5 million consumers in the GTA, and also the more than 140 million North American customers who are all within one day's trucking distance.

Richmond Hill is part of York Region, which is comprised of nine area municipalities located directly north of the City of Toronto. Richmond Hill continues to be a major growth area within the GTA. In July 2001, Richmond Hill's population was 137,857. As of December 31 2007, Richmond Hill's population was estimated to be 182,465 representing a 24% increase. (Source: York Region Planning & Development)

Richmond Hill has a diverse and thriving economy including corporate head offices, knowledge based companies in information technology and life sciences, high tech manufacturing and a growing service sector. Over 5,000 companies call Richmond Hill home. These companies create over 53,000 jobs, excluding home based businesses. (Source: York Region Employment and Industry Report, 2006)

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Transportation - Moving people and goods where you need them

With major highways, arterial roads, airports, trains and bus services fully accessible from Richmond Hill, the people and products you require to operate your business will be there when you need them

Roads:

Richmond Hill benefits from a highly developed road network providing local businesses with easy access to major north-south corridors including Yonge Street, Highways 400 and 404, as well as east-west corridors such as Highways 401 and 7. The 407 Express Toll Route (ETR), the world’s first all-electronic open access toll highway, has further enhanced Richmond Hill’s transportation advantages providing five interchanges along Richmond Hill’s southern boundary. Other expressways in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) include Highways 427, 410, 403, and the Queen Elizabeth Way (QEW). These arterial highways open up distant markets for local businesses.

Trains:

GO Transit provides easy access to downtown Toronto and surrounding areas. Some of Richmond Hill's business areas have CN mainline rail freight service.

Airports:

Air transportation is accommodated by Pearson International Airport, Canada´s busiest air terminal and Buttonville Airport, one of Canada´s 10 busiest privately owned airports.

Bus Services:

VIVA, York Region Transit and GO bus systems service the local Richmond Hill community as well as providing access to the rest of York Region and Toronto.

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Employment Areas
Four major employment areas service Richmond Hill; the Beaver Creek Business Park, the Newkirk Industrial Park, Headford Business Park, the Barker Business Park. These parks cover approximately 1600 acres (648 hectares) of land.

There are many options available to businesses looking for a location in Richmond Hill including:

• Approximately 518 acres of
Vacant Employment Lands
• Existing properties available for redevelopment

• Existing space for lease or sale

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Business Parks

Beaver Creek Business Park

Featuring over 600 acres (248 hectares) of land, Beaver Creek Business Park is Richmond Hill's largest business park. Strategically located in the southeast portion of Richmond Hill, Beaver Creek is located near major transportation corridors, including Highways 7, 407 and 404. Business located in the Beaver Creek Business Park include the head office of: Acklands Grainger, Compugen, GeneNews, Levi Strauss, Suzuki Canada.

Newkirk Business Park

Newkirk Business Park is Richmond Hill's oldest business park, with an array of established businesses. The total area of Newkirk Business Park is 313 acres (127 Hectares) and is home to over 300 companies including Apotex, Aecometric Corporation, Plasticap and Quebecor. Centrally located within Richmond Hill, the Newkirk Business Park features a large manufacturing base.

Headford Business Park

Located to the north of the Beaver Creek Business Park, the 433 acre (175 hectare) Headford Business Park has many opportunities for greenfield investment. This park is growing rapidly, yet still has many parcels of land available. Headford Business Park is home to the Canadian head offices of Mazda Canada, Rubicon, Staples Business Depot, TetraPak and Xenos.

Barker Business Park

Richmond Hill's newest business park features many excellent locations for future Richmond Hill businesses. Located to the north of Major Mackenzie Drive, on 253 acres (102 hectares), the Barker Business Park has a focus on environmentally sustainable initiatives and is the home of Cosmo Music, La Rocca Creative Cakes and soon, BMW Canada and iServe.   

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